Learn how to infuse an outdoor space with indoor comfort

An Outdoor Oasis

An Outdoor Oasis

The back porch Kelley Vickery built was meant to be a quiet refuge and a charming spot to entertain. But it sat unfinished until Woman's Day sent in designer Annie Selke to bring it to life.

Mark Lund/Woman's Day

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When Kelley Vickery, now 46, was going through her divorce, the Lenox, MA, resident's biggest concern was making the transition easier for her three children. "We sold our home and I used the money to build a new one next door," says Kelley. "I wanted my kids to be able to stay in the same school."

Hitting Roadblocks

Construction on the new house went smoothly until money became tight. Suddenly, there wasn't room in the budget to complete everything. "I focused on the bedrooms and the kitchen and had to skimp on other areas like the basement and the garage," she says.

Room for Improvement

One neglected spot—the porch overlooking Kelley's lushly wooded backyard—was particularly tough to put on the back burner. "I never installed a screen, and we live in a green, hilly area so bugs are an issue," she says. Also a problem? The stark, clumsy furniture that added no personality or functionality to the space.

A Place of Her Own

To the rescue: designer Annie Selke, who used modular pieces that serve the high-traffic, multipurpose porch well. "It's what I always dreamed it could be—great place for my family to come together and a room where I can reflect on the day," Kelley says.

Add Architecture

Selke constructed a storage banquette along one wall. The kids can pull up a table and perch on the comfy cushions to do homework, or stash the decorative pillows below to make room for a nap.

Increase Livability

Thanks to Selke's installation of screens and shades, which control the sunlight that floods the porch, the area can now function as a three-season spare room in Kelley's small home.

Pick Adaptable Furniture

Selke chose two tables that can be placed together for large gatherings or pulled apart and tucked into the corners to open up the space. Durable aluminum chairs and a wipe-clean rug are ideal for the semi-outdoor space.

An Outdoor Oasis

The back porch Kelley Vickery built was meant to be a quiet refuge and a charming spot to entertain. But it sat unfinished until Woman's Day sent in designer Annie Selke to bring it to life.

Mark Lund/Woman's Day

2Of3

When Kelley Vickery, now 46, was going through her divorce, the Lenox, MA, resident's biggest concern was making the transition easier for her three children. "We sold our home and I used the money to build a new one next door," says Kelley. "I wanted my kids to be able to stay in the same school."

Hitting Roadblocks

Construction on the new house went smoothly until money became tight. Suddenly, there wasn't room in the budget to complete everything. "I focused on the bedrooms and the kitchen and had to skimp on other areas like the basement and the garage," she says.

Room for Improvement

One neglected spot—the porch overlooking Kelley's lushly wooded backyard—was particularly tough to put on the back burner. "I never installed a screen, and we live in a green, hilly area so bugs are an issue," she says. Also a problem? The stark, clumsy furniture that added no personality or functionality to the space.

A Place of Her Own

To the rescue: designer Annie Selke, who used modular pieces that serve the high-traffic, multipurpose porch well. "It's what I always dreamed it could be—great place for my family to come together and a room where I can reflect on the day," Kelley says.

Add Architecture

Selke constructed a storage banquette along one wall. The kids can pull up a table and perch on the comfy cushions to do homework, or stash the decorative pillows below to make room for a nap.

Increase Livability

Thanks to Selke's installation of screens and shades, which control the sunlight that floods the porch, the area can now function as a three-season spare room in Kelley's small home.

Pick Adaptable Furniture

Selke chose two tables that can be placed together for large gatherings or pulled apart and tucked into the corners to open up the space. Durable aluminum chairs and a wipe-clean rug are ideal for the semi-outdoor space.

Get the Look

Selke (right) outlines five design personalities in her book Fresh American Spacesincluding Happy Preppy, which was the inspiration for Kelley's porch. Here's how to bring the style to life in your own home.